Solo Leveling: Infinite Talent

The battlefield was silent, save for the faint crackling of embers from the ruined structures. The aftermath of the battle had left the surroundings in utter devastation. Broken weapons, shattered armor, and the bodies of fallen monsters littered the ground. The stench of blood and smoke filled the air as Mai Lee stood amidst the carnage, his breathing steady despite the chaos he had just unleashed.

His fingers twitched slightly as he absorbed the residual energy lingering in the atmosphere. The fight had been more intense than expected, but the results were clear—victory was his. He glanced at his status window as it flickered to life, revealing the changes that had occurred.

[Partial Status Update]

Strength: +15

Agility: +12

Mana: +18

New Skill Acquired: "Void Slash"

Talent Fusion Successful: "Phantom Reflexes" (Merged from Shadow Evasion and Lightning Instinct)

Mai Lee's lips curled into a satisfied smirk. "Phantom Reflexes, huh? This should be interesting."

The talent fusion had exceeded his expectations. It granted him the ability to predict and evade attacks with near-perfect precision, combining the heightened senses of Shadow Evasion with the reaction speed of Lightning Instinct. With each battle, he was growing stronger at an alarming rate.

A distant rumble interrupted his thoughts. The remaining monsters that had survived the onslaught were retreating, sensing the overwhelming presence Mai Lee exuded. He exhaled slowly, his mind shifting from combat mode to planning his next move.

Before he could decide, a voice called out from behind him. "That was… unbelievable. You're not an ordinary hunter, are you?"

Mai Lee turned to see a group of hunters approaching cautiously. Their eyes were filled with awe and a hint of fear. One of them, a tall man with a greatsword strapped to his back, stepped forward. "You just took down an entire dungeon raid boss alone. Who… exactly are you?"

Mai Lee tilted his head slightly, considering his response. "Just a lucky guy with good instincts."

The man didn't look convinced, but he didn't push further. "Regardless, we owe you. If you hadn't been here, we would all be dead. My name is Han Joon-Seok, leader of the Silver Fang Guild. If you ever need anything, we owe you a favor."

Mai Lee nodded, storing the information for later. Having a guild in his debt might prove useful. "I'll keep that in mind."

With that, he turned away, leaving the hunters to recover from the battle. He had no interest in lingering when his next goal was already forming in his mind.

The next dungeon awaited, and with it, more talents to copy and fuse into something even greater.

As Mai Lee made his way through the remains of the battlefield, he took a moment to observe the distant horizon. The city skyline was barely visible through the layers of smoke and dust. The dungeon he had just cleared was one of the tougher ones in the area, but there were still bigger threats out there—opponents that could truly push him to his limits.

A notification suddenly appeared in his mind.

[Warning: You are being observed.]

His eyes narrowed. He had encountered this warning before, but each time it appeared, he could never quite pinpoint the source. Was it the guild? The association? Or something far beyond this realm? He couldn't be sure.

"Hmph… Let them watch. They'll understand soon enough."

His steps remained steady as he disappeared into the city, blending into the shadows like a ghost. The night was still young, and there were more battles to be fought, more talents to steal, and more power to claim.